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Gary Klopfenstein Obituary
Born April 15, 1947 to Wilbur and Willetta Mae (Oakley) at Lima Memorial Hopsital (Lima, Ohio).
Growing up on the family dairy farm in Wapakoneta, he loved to drive the tractors, namely the Fordson Major and the CA Allis Chalmers. He also found interest in troubleshooting and repairing broken farm equipment.
Shortly after graduating from Wapakoneta high school in 1965 he joined the US Navy. His four-year enlistment had him stationed in Florida, Washington, and in Vietnam aboard the USS Connie.
It was while stationed in Fort Meyers Florida he met and married Peggy Lynn Reinstra (1969) and adopted her two daughters Jill and Jan . In 1972, The couple welcomed a son Gary Lee Klopfenstein Jr. They relocated to Whidbey Island, Washington and later divorced. He was a skilled diesel mechanic and dairyman. In 1977 he married MaryJean (Davis) who had a daughter Pauline (Lowman). They were married 45 years Until her death October 29, 2022. Gary suffered many years with diseases associated with agent orange, diabetes, and cardiac disease. Gary's favorite pastimes were watching football and autoracing, rock hounding, travel, and volunteering with Awana.
He is preceded in death by his parents, son, and wife Maryjean. He is survived by brothers Marvin (Karen), and Terry (Jill), two daughters Jill (Dennis), Kilwein, Jan Payne, a stepdaughter Pauline Lowman, six grandchildren (Jeff, Cody, Tyler, Maddie, Trenton, Ethan), four great -grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. We want to thank Mountain Glen for taking such good care of him this past year. A Military urnside service will be held Tuesday, March 25, 2025, 2:00 pm at Hawthorne Memorial Park in Mount Vernon. Please share your stories of Gary and sign the online guest register at www.hawthornefh.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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Mar
25
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2:00 p.m.
Hawthorne Funeral Home - Mount Vernon1825 E. College Way PO Box 398, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
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Hawthorne Funeral Home - Mount Vernon1825 E. College Way PO Box 398, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
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